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Lakes & Rivers

Lakes of Arkansas

A vast majority of recreational vacations are water-related, and Arkansas is ready. With 600,000 acres of Arkansas lakes, there's plenty of space for fishing, swimming, sailing, power-boating, scuba diving and more.

The great fishing lakes of Arkansas are among its most prized possessions. Constantly fed by cold-flowing springs and creeks, the mountain fishing lakes are among the cleanest in the world. Scuba divers and underwater photographers marvel at the water clarity, while fishermen are happy with the trophy-sized lunkers they hook in the same waters. The Ozarks offer Bull Shoals, Greers Ferry, Norfork, Beaver, Dardanelle and other smaller lakes. The Ouachita Mountains boast DeGray, Greeson, Hamilton, Catherine, Nimrod and Ouachita lakes. And, south Arkansas boasts Millwood Lake, White Oak, Chicot (the state's largest ox-bow cutoff from the Mississippi) and others lakes in Arkansas.

Houseboats, sailing rigs, party barges, fishing boats, rafts, parasails and jet skis are just some of the watercrafts enjoyed on Arkansas lakes. In addition, trout fishermen and nature lovers use the popular flat-bottomed johnboat to navigate the shallow tail waters below the big power dams.

River Fishing in Arkansas - Catch "The Big One" in Arkansas Rivers

Whitewater canoeing on the Mulberry River

Whitewater canoeing on the Mulberry River

It's easy to catch "the big one" when river fishing in Arkansas's more than 9,700 miles of streams, including the mighty Mississippi River, the state's namesake Arkansas River and the cliff-lined Buffalo National River. While canoeing and kayaking are popular activities in the Natural State, floating is not the only attraction on its streams. Some, like Sylamore Creek at the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area and the Caddo River around Norman, provide the state's best swimming holes. Campgrounds, cabins and resorts can often be found along Arkansas's waterways, which frequently have picnicking areas and parks with easy-access boat ramps.

Arkansas rivers have some of the nation's best trout-fishing waters. The world-record German brown trout for 19 years (1992-2009) was caught on the Little Red River, and the White, North Fork and Spring rivers also yield brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout. The entire stretch of the Arkansas River within the state is popular among anglers seeking largemouth bass. Several big-time tournaments are held annually on Lake Dardanelle and other reservoirs formed by the river. Meanwhile, scenic streams in the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains offer anglers excellent river fishing for smallmouth bass.

Boating and water sports provide excitement on many of the state's larger rivers, and most agree, Arkansas river rafting is a lot of fun! For many, streamside hiking trails provide peace and quiet for listening to the talk of small mountain streams. Arkansas, it seems, has a stream for every occasion.